Florida and Georgia expected to see rise in holiday motorists

Friday

The number of people traveling over the Memorial Day weekend is increasing even while Americans plan to stay closer to home.

The estimates, from AAA Auto Club South, suggest people will be eager to get out of town but don't want to go too far away.

"The overall economic picture in the U.S. continues to improve," said AAA Vice President Brent Hubele. "However, Americans faced an unexpected challenge this year as gas prices broke record highs for the first quarter of the year and squeezed many household budgets."

Travelers will compensate for their reduced travel budget by staying closer to home or choosing cost-inclusive vacation options like cruises and tour travel packages, Hubele said.

The Times-Union asked AAA Auto Club South, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Visit Jacksonville for information on this upcoming weekend.

What will traffic be like?AAA estimates about 1.6 million Floridians and 875,000 Georgians are expected to travel over the Memorial Day weekend. This is a 1.2 percent increase in Florida and a 0.8 percent increase in Georgia. Nationwide about 30.7 million people are expected to travel, a 1.2 percent increase.

How much will gasoline cost?The price of gas averaged $3.48 in Jacksonville on Thursday, and the price is expected to drop over the weekend.

Check local gas prices

"Motorists will get the much-needed relief at the pump just in time for the Memorial Day weekend and will likely lead to an increased number of travelers, helping to jump start the summer travel season," said AAA spokeswoman Jessica Brady. "Both oil and gas prices are forecast to decrease this week as global leaders meet to discuss a resolution for Europe's debt issues."

Is parking available at Jacksonville International Airport?All regular parking lots are available. JIA does not anticipate opening extra lots the way it does during the Christmas season.

It costs $4 a day to park in the airport's economy lot. A breakdown of every available parking lot can be found at bit.ly/JhmnpP.

JIA spokeswoman Debbie Jones recommends people arrive at the airport an hour to 90 minutes before their flight departs, and check with the airline before going to the airport to make sure the flight is on time.

Will people be staying at Jacksonville hotels over the weekend?Hotels downtown are expected to be at capacity with the Jazz Festival, the soccer match between Scotland and the United States and the Jehovah's Witness Convention all occurring.

Hotels in other parts of town are expected to be near capacity, said Visit Jacksonville spokeswoman Katie Kurycki.

Assistant Chief Leonard Propper with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said all major bridges and thoroughfares will be open this weekend. But some streets downtown will be closed for the Jazz Festival.

larry.hannan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4470

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